A total of 84 reviews of this product on Reddit.
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There are no drivers for these. You may be confused with the fact that people often refer to headphone “drivers”, which is the technical name for the mechanism that makes the device in the earcup.
i.e. “The headphone uses a driver in the right and left earcup to produce sound”.
In the case of the PC37x, it uses the “same drivers” as the Sennheiser HD600 series headphones, meaning the sound is more or less identical to these. Except it’s in a new housing and it has a microphone attached.
More “techy” headphones (i.e. wireless, stuff with 7.1) often come with software drivers to adjust their sound; that’s generally bloated and undesirable.
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The 880s are sold, but the 600 is still available. The HD 600 is normally $300 new on amazon. These are essentially brand new, except the replacement pads and headband are not Sennheiser.
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Someone chime in because I might be misunderstanding something.
What is the benefit of getting the HD6XX for $250 when HD600 can be bought for ~$285?
Don’t get me wrong. It was pretty amazing at $200. I don’t know that it’s quite so ‘competitive’ now with the price raise.
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if u’re extremely flexible, there’s a deal in amazon u.s.a right now, for 361$, u get a pair of hd600 and fiio e10k amp.it’s neutral sounding with great mids and highs without any sharpness and u can amplify the bass with the fiio e10k amp and u can flip the gain switch if ur hd600 dont have enough power from e10k amp.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518237910&sr=8-1&keywords=hd600
enter the link, scroll down till u see “frequently bought together”, then u uncheck microphone and press add to cart then buy it.do it quick, this is a great deal.
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If you are from US, please consider hd600 too. Right now it’s on amazon for a very good price ($311)
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>Looking for the best vocal clarity for smooth jazz.
Sennheiser HD600 are impressive for vocal clarity. Amazon has them on sale for $278, with free return shipping if you don’t like them
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/
K5 Pro will easily drive them
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Conversely Sennheiser HD600 is going for $267 on Amazon U.S. and $340 +25% VAT ($425 total) on Amazon UK. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-Audiophile-Quality-stereo-Headphones-Black/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=sennheiser+hd600&qid=1564222871&s=gateway&sprefix=sennheiser+hd&sr=8-1
Go figure.
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how are these? Sennheiser HD600 – are they a good fit for my needs?
the difference between them and the HD598 are noticeable?
This ships to Israel btw
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Is the HD600 on sale? Or is it always this price? I didn’t see it on the list, but they’re $260 right now, claimed to be marked down from $400. Is that a good deal, or is that a bullshit retail price to make it look like a sale?
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Go to Spanish Amazon. Cheapest seller have them for 240€ although he doesnt send to my country (Czech Republic). Maybe you will be lucky. But Amazon price is only little more anyway 251€. Postage to my country is 9,22€, total 260,22€. Thats not bad. It will depends how much postage you will have to pay.
Note: Its black color model although they have blue model photo…
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It really depends. If I have been having a particular grindy week, my jaw and ear can be really sensitive. I also go through periods where I have no issues at all. I find that I’m usually ready to switch to my monitors around the 3 or 4 hour mark, depending. The ATs aren’t known for comfort, so you have to keep that in mind. They also get sticky/sweaty which I don’t like. I personally think the velvet coned seinnheiser HD600s are the most comfortable cans I’ve ever put on. They also sound great – mayble a little less bass then the ATs, or just different. That’s not a bad thing though as sometimes I get fatigue from the heavy bass in the ATs and have to eq it out while I’m working on a mix. I’m considering selling and getting those at some point.
EDIT: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
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Not OP, just an avid music fan: $100 to $400 isn’t the point of imperceptible differences between headphones, even for casual music fans. At $100 you’re cutting out the gold standard for “reasonably priced” high-end headphones: Sennheiser HD 600. Above these it starts to taper off, though.
I definitely don’t think it’s a worthwhile purchase for the vast majority of people–perceiving a clear difference isn’t enough to appreciate it, just like I can’t appreciate nice cars–but it makes sense for music geeks.
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> Best 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset??
There is no such thing. What you need to look for in headphones is sound stage. The bigger the sound stage the headphone is capable of providing, the better positional audio you are going to get. Sennheiser makes open headphones with the best sound stage out there for under $200, though it comes at the cost of everyone else in the room hearing what you are listening to. Sennheiser do offer closed back headphones though the sound stage suffers as a result.
So it’s really down to whether you want the best audio experience possible at the expense of noise bleeding out (open back) or a more private listening experience with reduced quality (closed back).
EDIT: With Sennheiser “go ham” equals $50,000 but they do have a high end pair of headphones that won’t break the bank. For $280 the Sennheiser HD 600s are going to be the absolute top end gaming headphones out there with no equal from any “gaming headset” company out there. I should note that you will need a good headphone amplifier with these as the sound card port won’t be enough to power them. Can’t help you with that as I use a home theater amp to power my Sennheisers – do not have experience with the tinier headphone amps.
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On sale in Germany as well: Just 299€ even tho its a German company producing them in ~~Germany~~ the EU and the € is worth more than the $ because fuck being German and buying audio gear. (My stuff is imported because paying 20% for customs is STILL CHEAPER THAN BUYING IN GERMANY!)
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The HD600 and HD650 fit pretty well, but considering your current headphones it may not be as much of an upgrade as you’re hoping for and I’m guessing you’ve already considered them. If you go for the HD650 I’d wait for a sale, and the HD600 are currently on sale for a good price at ~288$
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Is this a good deal? If so, what amp/dac should I buy to power it for $150?
Edit: I’m talking about the HD600+ $150 gift card for $400
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I suppose the question I have is, if you could only take one, which would it be as they run the same price? Also do you think the whole planar thing is all its cracked up to be. Finally…
This deal with HD 600 a Beryn 990 and M30 for $400 or $300 hE-400i’s
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http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
Its a funny set up I have. The Xbox optical out goes to a amp which goes to the above. For chat I use the default plugged into the controller and it just sits in front of me. I want to buy just a mic that plugs directly into the controller.
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Most of my headphones are circumaural open-backed. For example: Sennheiser HD 600.
You can get open-backed on-ear as well.
EDIT: haha, HD 600 is the headphone against which all others are judged. They are often said to require additional amplification, and they aren’t cheap. There are cheaper options available. The HD598 are common.
I don’t own either, you might want to head over to the purchase advice sticky.
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The Sennheiser HD 600 have served me for many years. I’ve replaced the cord and the ear pads both, very simple.
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A little overbudget, but I think you’ll like the Sennheiser HD 600
It meets almost all of your requirements. It has an emphasis on the bass and mids, with darker/smoother treble. It has a big soundstage too because it is fully open. Overall a warm, musical sound.
The only requirement they don’t meet is size, they are quite bulky.
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Sennheiser HD580. They don’t make ’em anymore, but the HD600 are almost perfectly similar. Just a little more expensive. Mine are now 10 years old, the cables and replacement parts (ear foam and headband foam) are still available!
These headphones are rated by many as the best possible sound you can have for a decent price. Very neutral but a little warm with the proper amplifier (on MP3 players it won’t sound as impressive) and pretty much the most comfortable headphones you’ll ever wear. Actually, these are a steal.
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Sennheiser HD600 + FIIO K5 Pro
I currently have this setup and it sounds amazing.
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its ok! not many people know, it’s just a limitation of Bluetooth’s Data rate, which is about 2 or 4 mb/s i think. Devices connected over wifi (things like an Apple Homepod or Apple TV) will work for lossless since the data rate is sufficient over wifi, but then sound quality comes down to what speakers you have. A lot of people try to use “lossless” as a buzzword to make people think it sounds better when they don’t even have the right equipment to listen to it, pretty much just a placebo effect.
If you really want to get into it, you could get a desktop setup that connects via USB to a PC or laptop. I recently got a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 headphones and a JDS Labs Amp and JDS Labs DAC as a stack. The high quality “Audiophile” headphones need additional power to drive properly, it’s pretty nice compared to listening on airpods!
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Might wanna lower the price, they’re on amazon for $260 bnib
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SY4H/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
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There’s always the famed neutral HD600’s. You’d almost certainly need an amp, but the FX Audio DAC X6 would probably fit the bill there. On Amazon right now, the HD600 is $286 Prime and the DAC X6 is $64.99 Prime. Without tax, I will admit that busts your budget by $0.99, and depending on your state, the tax could push it up higher. However, that’s quite a good set of headphones right there. If you’re looking to stay a little cheaper, you could probably roll with the HE-400i for $219 Prime, which is somewhat neutral (though HiFiMan is somewhat notorious for their stuff tending to break, though the build looks solid). I’d stick with the same amp, as it should work fine with those cans and they do need an amp (in my opinion). If you want to save a few more bucks on top of that, there’s the HD598 for $139.95 (this one needs less amping, but trying it out with an amp wouldn’t be a bad idea). Of course, each of these are certainly available other places than Amazon, and possibly for cheaper. If you don’t mind going used, HD600’s are plentiful (they’ve been in production for about 20 years by now) and they’re built like tanks so they’ll last.
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https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
Amazon US HD600 $300
Sweetwater HD600 $300
If I am not mistaken $300 is 75% of MSRP
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Sell the Bose 700. Get Sennheiser HD 600 and Tempotec Sonata HD Pro dongle to use them with your phone
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3
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Deal link: Amazon
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Deal link: Amazon
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OP I’ve found a pair of Hurr Durr 600’s on Amazon for $329.95 USD: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_30?dchild=1&m=A2O1A8NNN5Y1TU&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1628225290&s=merchant-items&sr=1-30
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A bit over budget, but what do you think about the Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 600?
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
Do you think they are worth the 100% price increase or not really?
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The 600s are on sale, but they may be a bit pricey and the discount doesn’t seem amazing. I have 599s and they are pretty great, hope you can bag one.
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Senhieser but within your price range. You will also need a mic and amp/dac
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You might want to reconsider your 660S pricing: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00004SY4H/
Brand new, these come with a 4.4mm balanced cable as well as se cables.
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So, on to audio! Or, as I’m going to call it, “the second internal conflict your comment has caused me”, after the 2x295x2 vs. 970 tri-SLI one.
The source of this conflict is your budget. It’s just high enough to give you myriad options, but just low enough that nothing is definitively superior to all others – at least not enough so to really make my life easy. This is because you have enough for one of two options: a pair of high-mid-fi headphones and a very solid DAC and amp, or a budget DAC and amp and a pair of hi-fi headphones. I can’t even say with certainty which of these two options is better for you, much less which specific permutation of it is best.
Now I, personally, am in the latter group. I have an O2+ODAC and a pair of AKG K7XXs (and a pair of ATH-AD2700s, but those are a modded headphone I made myself, so I’m a bit skeptical of counting them), but this is only because I am absolutely, unshakably certain that I will be inevitably getting a top-of-the-line headphone (or three, or five, or…), so I wanted to future-proof my audio chain rather than incrementally upgrading my amp and DAC.
What’s best for you, well, that, as said, is the question. I suppose it’ll have to be a judgement call on your part. Onward, then, to the options:
When I saw your budget, the first thing that came to my mind was a Sennheiser HD600 ($292 from Amazon) and an Objective2+ODAC (279-329 depending on configuration from JDS Labs). This was partially because the two together fit the price almost perfectly, but more because it is essentially the defining, objectively good neutral pairing. The HD600 has over a decade of being one of the most acclaimed headphones in the world, particularly among the neutral headphones, and is rightly a legend, even though the much more expensive HD800 has replaced it as a flagship. It has been characterized as a headphone which does no genre wrong, with a neutral signature and very, very impressive presentation. The O2+ODAC, on the other hand, are a bit of a newcomer, but one with quite a head of steam. Designed by the great (and possibly late) NwAvGuy, they are one of the few audio chains designed purely around objective criteria and measurements, as detailed in his blog. While he was a very controversial figure himself, you won’t find a scientifically-minded person who claims that his Objective stack didn’t deliver on his promises. NwAvGuy argued that his amplifier and DAC would be the last most users would ever need, and, having looked over his numbers and listened to them myself, I believe him.
The next option, very closely related to the former, would be Sennheiser’s HD650 ($334 at Amazon) and the aforementioned Objective stack. The HD650 is technically the successor to the HD600, based on the same drivers but with some audible tweaks, which show up on their frequency response charts. The HD650 is a darker (more bass-prominent) version of the HD600, often characterized as having a “smoother” or more “relaxed” sound. This is no basshead headphone, to be certain, but it’s a bit more bass than the HD600, which some people consider to be a significant advantage.
Now, the next option I would normally throw out would be the AKG K712 Pro, AKG’s competitor to the HD6x0 series, and the Objective stack. Only one problem: in the last month, its price has exploded from it’s normal resting point between $340 and $360 to stand at over $400! The cheapest one on Amazon is $423, and most other sites which have it in stock are selling it for $500, seemingly. Nearest I can tell, it’s going out of stock at various retailers, and only the expensive ones still have it. This is a true shame, because the K712 is a great headphone: a very neutral sound, much like that of the HD600/650 (though with a bit more bass than neutral, so perhaps closer to the latter), a truly massive soundstage (I consider the K702 Anniversary/K712 Pro/K7XX the defining headphone for classical) and very capable gaming performance, too. Sadly, at their current price, I can’t really recommend them, and the drop for the K7XX just ended on Massdrop, so I’m afraid you’re out of luck on that angle.
The next on the “and an O2+ODAC” list would be MrSpeakers Mad Dog, the only closed headphone I’d recommend pairing with it (with the amount you have to spend, that is). The Mad Dogs are a modified variant of the Fostex T50RP, but they’re widely considered to far, far exceed the stock model. The Mad Dogs are considered a bass-leaning neutral-ish headphone, with very good isolation, and supposedly a fairly solid soundstage for a closed headphone. Though I tend not to recommend closed headphones when open is an option, the Mad Dogs are worth a look for pretty much anyone buying in their budget space, as they’re broadly considered to do nothing wrong (much like the HD600).
Onward to the land of more budget amplification:
We can’t stop here, we’re in planar magnetic country. Hifiman’s HE-500 ($500) is an absolute value legend. One of the cheaper high-end planars (its competitors from brands like Audeze run closer to $1,000-2000), the HE-500 provides absolutely stellar sound for its price at the expense of pretty much everything else. The build, comfort, and power efficiency of the headphones have all been criticized, and its price would stick you with a pretty cheap amp (either a Schiit Magni 2 running out of your motherboard’s integrated DAC, or a lower-powered DAC-amp unit like a FiiO E10k), which might not be ideal. On the other hand, as said, many have argued you won’t find better sound for your dollar, and there are options for improving the comfort and the like (though those all cost you more, just over time).
Okay, so what if you liked the sound of the HE-500, but the complaints about the comfort (validly) scared you off? Well, Hifiman’s got another option on tap for you: the HE-400i ($425–$500, depending on your comfort with open-box items). Though technically a successor to the HE-400 (a rather coloured/non-neutral planar), the HE-400i is generally considered much more neutral, like the HE-500, and the revamped pads and suspension system of the 400i supposedly puts it well ahead of the HE-500 (and the rest of the older series) where comfort is concerned. It’s also cheaper, if you’re willing to consider open-box items, which would allow you to (just about) fit a full Schiitstack: the Magni 2 and Modi 2. Considered by many to be just about identical in sound and performance to the Objective stack for less money, the M+M stack is a very, very popular budget DAC and amp, and some people consider them good enough for top-of-the-line cans.
Wow. That ended up longer than I expected. I can throw out some more options, but those would probably be the core of it. There are others I really adore in this range (the AD-2000, for example), but those 5/6 (depending on how you look at it) are some of the strongest options I can think of, particularly for your espoused taste in music. Or, honestly, all music; there’s not a specialist on that list.
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Hey Black_Halcyon
Normally I avoid the trap of telling someone to just spend more money, but you left the door wide open
- Your $100 budget is flexible
- You’re considering buying an amp (easily another $100)
- You’ve used the “A” word 😉
The golden rule in audio is that you should spend the majority of your budget on the best possible transducer you can afford and worry about the rest later. With this in mind, my advice to you is to pool your money and splurge on the most affordable headphones to be universally recognised as “audiophile-grade”, i.e. the Sennheiser HD 600 series.
For example:
- HD 600 (from $300 on Amazon)
- HD 650 (from $320 on Amazon)
- HD 6XX ($200 from Massdrop).
Going by your criteria any of the above might be a good fit.
- The Godfather(s) of all modern open-backed headphones
- New from $200, but 2003 introduction (HD 600) means that buying secondhand is an option
- Works OK from PC (debatable) but scales very well with dedicated amp
- Smooth and natural-sounding (i.e. less bassy than PortaPro)
- Makes any good recording sound good, reasonably tolerant of poor quality tracks
- Detachable cables
Some notes
- HD 600 is the most neutral of the trio
- HD 650 and HD 6XX are more bass orientated. This is relatively speaking. Coming from a PortaPro: prepare to have your mind blown (after the initial acclimatization period) with audiophile goodness.
Good luck with the decision!
PS – If you are too fiscally responsive to be tempted into spending the big bucks, you could always consider the HD 58X ($150 from Massdrop). While it is more bass-heavy than the 600s, it is perhaps the biggest bargain in audiophile headphones today. And it gives its best without any need for an additional amp.
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This Amazon listing has them as the 600D as you can see in the URL: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-600D-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
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Price History
- Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone ^<em>PureLink</em>
ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.7/5 from 532 valid reviews
CamelCamelCamel – [Info] │ Keepa – [Info]
These savings aren’t just Black and White.
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You can get something similar if you are willing to pay a little more. This is also an option as well as this.
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Okay thanks, yeah I see them on►Amazon now for that
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A couple of things to note:
- The drivers have certainly undergone revisions over the years: https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/very-important-sennheiser-hd-580-hd-600-and-hd-650-page-2
- Manufacturing has since switched from Ireland to Romania, and there have been some measurable differences with the transition (at least with the HD650, so by extension HD600 may have similar differences as well): https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/solving-the-hd650-mystery.8026/
- Mass production of any product, in general, will result in manufacturing variances from batch to batch, and even from one specimen to another – so it’s unreasonable to think you are going to get 100% exactly the same thing; especially almost two decades later. Perhaps a ~10% difference, give or take.
- Keep in mind, earpad wear also plays a significant role in shaping the overall sound, so if you are comparing an extremely worn down unit, against a similarly aged unit with brand new pads, that alone will sound quite different.
- You can purchase a brand new pair straight from Amazon, and if it doesn’t match up to your tastes for some reason, you should be able to return with minimal issue: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
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First off for a comparison between your G933, it’s a massive difference. I’ve heard a fair amount of headphones as well as the G933. The G933 is in no way bad for what it is, it actually surprised me with the audio quality. With that said, though, I still wouldn’t take it over a similarly priced pair of headphones. When you get down to the technical aspects of headphones like imaging, soundstage, clarity, detail, general tonal balance and sound presentation then any gaming headset just can’t compare. $400 is easily enough for incredible sound as well. A lot of people stick with headphones in that price range over TOTL (top of the line) headphones in the $1k range, it’s definitely enough especially coming from the two pairs you listed. That doesn’t mean there’s not room for improvement, though.
As for recommendations, these are my go to recommendations for headphones in your price range. It can be kind of hard to tell what exactly you want in a headphone since 3 different $400 headphones can sound vastly different from one another but the ones listed below are pretty highly regarded for the most part. I gave some extra detail about each headphone that will hopefully help you narrow it down. Another thing worth thinking about is an amp/dac. It won’t be necessary for any of the listed headphones but that doesn’t mean it won’t help. Usually the difference is insignificant or inaudible in this price range but there are exceptions.
Sorry for the wall of text, there’s just a lot to consider here if you want an accurate recommendation. My personal recommendation based on the playlist you posted would be the M1060. They’re planar magnetics so the bass goes reaaal damn low and they also have a decent boost to the bass and mid range as well so you’d get that nice rumble and forward vocals with the mids.
If you have any more questions feel free to hit me up.
The Sennheiser HD 600 -~$300- is basically the crown jewel of /r/headphones. I personally haven’t heard it but it’s considered one of the best headphones of all times for the past ~20 years. It’s mostly neutral so it may not be as exciting but has excellent detail retrieval. The only potential negative other than that I can think of is the soundstage, how wide the sound is. Some headphones sound like music comes from outside the headphone, some sound like earbuds where the sound is right against your head. These have a pretty narrow soundstage so they’re more towards the latter.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX(Massdrop exclusive, needs account, long ship times) -$199- These are similar to the HD 600 but are less neutral. They have a little bit more bass but they have recessed highs which gives them a dark signature so things like cymbals, some guitar tones, orchestral instruments etc will sound less detailed and forward. Still a very solid headphones, especially for the price. They’re normally ~$350.
Monoprice M1060 -~$300- is a bit of a polarizing headphone, people either love or hate it. Some people claim it sounds as good as a $1k pair of headphones, others find it underwhelming and/or hear a high pitch ringing. I’ve used them and demo’d them to ~5 people, none of which heard the ringing. I love them but don’t agree with the “= to $1k headphones” sentiment. Some like them more than my $600 headphones though, so, yeah. These headphones have a lot of bass, boosted mids so vocals are very present and the highs are mostly neutral. The soundstage on these is pretty damn wide.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 -~$220- is a very highly regarded headphone here. The only downside really is the high frequencies are boosted significantly and a decent amount of people find them unlistenable. If you have sensitive ears then skip these. They’re quite V shaped (meaning bass and treble/highs are boosted). They have a decent sound stage, nothing too extreme either way.
AKG K7XX(Massdrop exclusive) -$199- These are great. I own them and are probably some of the best ~$200 headphones you can buy. They can also be pretty love/hate, though, but most people who don’t like them seem to have a lot of experience with a wide variety of headphones. Out of all my headphones most people I demo mine to prefer the K7XX, even over my $600 pair. They’re mostly neutral with slightly boosted mids and slightly lowered highs and a massive soundstage.
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Again sorry for the wall of text, I know it’s not the easiest to read. The recommendations are first, if you want you can skip the rest of it because it’s not all “necessary” info but I do encourage reading it all, there’s some good info. I know that’s a lot of suggestions but except in fairly rare cases you’d be safe picking any one of these unless the sound doesn’t seem like it would suit you. Worst case scenario you return it and try something else. If you have any more questions/concerns I’ll gladly help.
The Sennheiser HD 600 -~$300- is basically the crown jewel of /r/headphones. I personally haven’t heard it but it’s considered one of the best headphones of all times for the past ~20 years. It’s mostly neutral so it may not be as exciting but has excellent detail retrieval. The only potential negative other than that I can think of is the soundstage, how wide the sound is. Some headphones sound like music comes from outside the headphone, some sound like earbuds where the sound is right against your head. These have a pretty narrow soundstage so they’re more towards the latter.
Monoprice M1060 -~$300- is a bit of a polarizing headphone, people either love or hate it. Some people claim it sounds as good as a $1k pair of headphones, others find it underwhelming and/or hear a high pitch ringing. I’ve used them and demo’d them to ~5 people, none of which heard the ringing. I love them but don’t agree with the “= to $1k headphones” sentiment. Some like them more than my $600 headphones though, so, yeah. These headphones have a lot of bass, boosted mids so vocals are very present and the highs are mostly neutral. The soundstage on these is pretty damn wide.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 -~$220- is a very highly regarded headphone here. The only downside really is the high frequencies are boosted significantly and a decent amount of people find them unlistenable. If you have sensitive ears then skip these. They’re quite V shaped (meaning bass and treble/highs are boosted). They have a decent sound stage, nothing too extreme either way.
The Hifiman HE-4XX(Massdrop exclusive, needs account, long ship times) -$169- are basically a cheaper version of the Hifiman HE-400, another long time favorite of /r/headphones. These headphones are mostly neutral with a slight bass boost, afaik. The downside to these, though, is Hifiman is well known for shitty quality control. I had one of their headphones break on me after a week of owning them. Supposedly the HE-4XX has solved most of those issues but I’d still tread carefully. Most people think this pair is a steal at the price, though.
AKG K7XX(Massdrop exclusive) -$199- These are great. I own them and are probably some of the best ~$200 headphones you can buy. They can also be pretty love/hate, though, but most people who don’t like them seem to have a lot of experience with a wide variety of headphones. Out of all my headphones most people I demo mine to prefer the K7XX, even over my $600 pair. They’re mostly neutral with slightly boosted mids and slightly lowered highs and a massive soundstage.
Out of all of these headphones the M1060 and HD 600 probably have the best detail which would do the whole hearing new things the best. With that said, though, none of these would fail at that even remotely. Those two are also probably the most comfortable out of the headphones, with the potential exception of the K7XX.
Another term worth knowing is planar magnetic. The M1060 and HE 4XX are planar magnetic headphones which instead of using a typical speaker cone-resembling drivers they essentially use a sheet of metal controlled by magnets, some weird sorcery shit. Planar’s usually have a signature sound and bass that extends real god damn low into the sub bass frequencies. They also have incredible speed, meaning that they’re very responsive and excel with fast paced music. They’re often quite punchy as well which is a great combo for double bass, snare and tom spam. Metal won’t really benefit from the bass extension but I personally find the rest of the features to help with metal.
Some other notes. Soundstage isn’t very important with metal but can really make other genres shine, especially those with a lot of ambience and depth. It’s also usually recommended to get closed headphones for metal and I can mostly agree with that. The HD 600, DT 990 and M1060 all have closed versions but the M1060 closed are iffy. If you’re unfamiliar, open vs closed is pretty much what it sounds like. Open headphones have an “open” back to them, letting more sound in and out which gives a more atmospheric sound to them but also letting outside sounds interfere more. Some sound like you’re not wearing headphones at all, letting so much sound in you couldn’t tell the difference. Closed are the polar opposite and give a more isolated, intimate sound.
Lastly, when you start venturing into headphones that cost more than ~$200, it’s worth looking into the benefits of an amplifier/DAC (digital-analogue converter). They’re not necessary but, depending on the headphones, can improve the sound. Bottom line is usually ~$70 and require a USB connection but have mobile variants that plug into your phone. They’re definitely not necessary at this price point but it’s possible you won’t get the most out of the headphones without it depending on the pair, different headphones require different amount of power. Usually it’s fairly insignificant sub $500 though.
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I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for, but I know what it needs to do. I currently have a desktop and headphones, no speakers yet (maybe Rokit 5?). I’m going to be using it for music production (recording and mixing). I need an audio setup that:
can power at least a Sennheiser HD600
can connect to studio monitor speakers
does dac / amp stuff
stops playing audio from the speakers when headphones are plugged in.
One knob for volume control? (so I don’t have to reach around the speakers)
I don’t know if I need passive or active studio monitors (or what that really means). I believe I want the KRK Rokit 5, but I’m willing to look at other monitors if they fit my purposes better.
Would a Schiit Magni Modi combo work for my purposes? How would all the connections work? Do I need to buy cables (and which kind)?
Final question, so all this has to do with only playback, right? What if I add something that can record input from a microphone, is that separate equipment or is there something that can do all that (and would I want that)? Would any of the recording equipment interfere with the playback equipment? I assume not but I want to be sure.
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The US amazon store has them for $286 USD, which is $365 Canadian.
And Massdrop has the 6xx for $200 USD
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here is the link to amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
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Alright, Also do you consider yourself a big fan of sub-bass? I’m thinking about recommending the classic Schiit Magni 2 amplifier and Modi 2 DAC combo with the Sennheiser HD-600s. These are for home use only as they require a USB connection via your computer for the DAC, and the amp is definitely not portable haha. Those are a fantastic pairing, but the Sennheisers are a little bit lacking in the low end. Absolute magic in the mids and treble though. This is an endgame combo for many people.
Those Senns are open back, so they leak sound but provide a better soundstage compared to an closed-back pair. When it comes to closed back headphones, (Isolated – doesn’t leak sound) I really, really recommend ZMF Vibros They are quite a bit more expensive, but an absolute endgame pair of planar dynamic closed back cans. The bass response is unreal on these pairs and work very, very well with hip-hop, electronic music, and pop. The Schiit amp and dac above would drive these just fine.
For the gym, I’d just get a pair of these MEE Audio M6 Pro In-ear monitors, or a good old pair of Koss Porta Pros if you don’t like the IEM style. Both of those would be fine options, as they aren’t super expensive but still sound great, and are durable. Just plug into your phone and you’re set.
For any case though, do try to audition headphones before you buy anything! This will give you a solid idea of what kind of pair you’re looking for.
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As someone that has been collecting headphones for over 10 years, I can tell you that there is diminishing returns once you get into the $500 + territory. You are pretty much trying to find the sound signature that you love.
Point being, some of the best headphones in the hobby are easily $200-300 range. I would actually highly recommend the HD-600 or HD-650. They are fantastic headphones, and a lot of audiophiles even use them as end game (since they scale incredibly well with Amps/DACS) – and are overall a good balance.
HD-600
(They are on sale now too. $285 compared to $400)
HD-650
(Also on sale. $315 normally $500)
They are both very similar. The 650 has a little more bass/veil, the 600 are slightly more neutral (without a colored bass). But both are very close (I personally find the 600 are more comfortable to wear. But the 650 looks more aesthetically pleasing and audiophiles seem to prefer it over the 600 but they are damn close in sound).
The 600/650 have really nice soundstage, clear separation of instruments – and decent bass (won’t be boom). They are just great all around cans. The 650 rank really high on Head-Fi (the largest audiophile forum) and are actually rated the second best headphones on there.
https://www.head-fi.org/f/showcase/category/over-ear.263/?order=popular
If you don’t mind me asking Tim, what sound sig do you like? Are you a treble man? Do you like that crunch/speed? Or are you a bass man? Do you like a thicker sound?
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Hey guys, not a huge audiophile here, but I do like me some decent sound quality over the average stuff. I have a few questions and hopefully people here have some answers.
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD600s and a Xonar Essence STX.
I have been using my Line 6 UX2 since I haven’t bought a headphone amp, and using my sound card, it is too quiet. But I’m tired of playing games in stereo and want to make the switch.
So what are some beginning level, cheap headphone amps you’d recommend me buy until I have a bit more money (girlfriend is in nursing school and I’m a single income for another year).
Thanks in advanced.
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Hey tech support! Something is wrong with my headphone audio setup and I do not know what it is. Please help!
I recently purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD600’s to use for mixing, gaming, casual listening, honestly everything:
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489684295&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd+600
The headphones plug into a Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489684477&sr=8-2&keywords=focusrite+scarlett+solo+bundle
The interface connects to my desktop via USB, this is my motherboard:
https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Enthuastic-Z170A-Motherboard-M7/dp/B0131GA4PK
My issue is a complete lack of bass on the HD600’s. Their low frequency response is advertised down to as low as 12 hz, but I cannot get anywhere close to that. This behavior is the same across all audio sources – browser, daw, games, individual files, etc. I am not sure what the problem is. Are they not receiving enough power from my Scarlett interface? Do I need an additional sound card in my machine to support them? (I know my mobo has one on-board but I cannot speak to its quality).
It is worth mentioning that I also have a set of speakers and sub:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z623-Speaker-System-Black/dp/B003VAHYTG/ref=sr_1_cc_5?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1489685083&sr=1-5-catcorr&keywords=logitech+z506
These also plug directly into the Scarlett, and they have always sounded fine.
Now before anyone says ‘well duh headphones are not going to emit the same caliber of bass as a sub’,
I realize that. But the bass is just completely non existent in my HD600’s.
I have another pair of headphones (Sony MDR706), which I also plug into the Scarlett, and they sound fine.
I can hear the appropriate range that I would expect, no bass issues.
I’m hoping some smart folks here can help me out.
TLDR – My HD600’s have zero bass and I do not know if its a hardware issue, software issue, or a combination of the two.
Thanks very much in advance for any replies.
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You can get those HD600s for $288 right now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
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here. Where you are planing to plug them in? They are 280 euros approximately and you’ll need an amp.. also check hifishark.com for used cans
here the 598s for 150 euros and they don’t need an amp (they improve a bit but they are fine without it). So they are basically the same as the 599s and way cheaper…
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Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yPtvybN37P7A8
Little Dot MK III Headphone Tube Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHIKIDM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2PtvybZPN07K7
I’ve got a the schitt modi u on the way too. -_-
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So Amazon has the 600s at a good price right now (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SY4H/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and I snagged a pair. I have now tried them with the JOT and they sound fantastic. Better than the 650s.
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Currently 244.76 € in Amazon Spain. They’ve been like that for a couple of weeks, a couple of € cheaper about a month ago.
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MOBO: MSI Intel B85 LGA 1150 DDR3 USB 3.1 Micro ATX Motherboard (B85M-G43)
[Direct name from where I bought it]
For the RCA Cable: Would this work? / is this the correct type?
I’d plug the 3.5mm jack form that cable in to the Line out (if I have it) / Headphone port, then the other 2 ends of it in to the amp?
Just making sure.. So I wouldn’t need any thing else besides:
RCA Cable: http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021815&p_id=5598&seq=1&format=2 ~$5
HD600: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H ~$320
Mod Mic: http://www.modmic.com/collections/modmic/products/modmic-4-0 ~$50
EDIT: And the Magni 2: https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-0702-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00SCBKPW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472193738&sr=8-1&keywords=magni+2 ~$120
So, would that all be good?
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Well the HD600 is the most obvious upgrade choice.
They need amping, but they’re not hard to drive and they scale well with amp quality. This means you have some flexibility when it comes to the amp. If you plan on upgrading to a better amp in the future, grab an UCA202 for the time being, and save for a $100+ amp for later. If you want an amp now and are not looking for an upgrade in the near future, get a FiiO E10K or SMSL SD793-II.
You can also try simply using them straight out of your PC for starters, if you happen to have a higher quality motherboard by any chance you may be pleasantly surprised by its ability to drive them, and you can postpone getting an amp and save the $30 for the UCA202.
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http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H#bundle_feature_div
HD600 $250
Fiio K5 ~$100
UCA202 ~$30
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Sennheiser HD600 are very close to your price range. I’d say look no further.
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I think I am getting hd600
yo you think this is a decent deal?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-600-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B00004SY4H?ie=UTF8&keywords=hd650&qid=1460148402&ref_=nav_ya_signin&sr=8-3
thank’s a lot for your responses.
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Sound or DAC for Gaming Computer?
Should I get a sound card or a DAC? What brands/models should I look into? I’ve been trying to decide if I should get a sound card or a DAC for my gaming desktop. I don’t want to spend more than $250 USD, but I’d be willing to go up to $300 if it’s absolutely necessary.
For my headphones, I have Sennheiser PC 363D for games and movies and Sennheiser HD 598 SE for music. I’m considering getting Sennheiser HD 600 because I found some for a pretty good deal. For speakers, I’m in the process of trying to decide what speakers to get for my computer. I’m leaning towards either JBL LSR305 or Audioengine A2+.
For sound cards, I’ve been looking at:
For DACs, I’ve been looking at:
Please let me know what you think of these choices and if you have any to add. I just want to get the best sound that I can for under $250-300. Thanks!
This is my current build…
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
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I’d go with this: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
Use the gift card towards a Schiit Magni 2 or something. Your interface functions as a DAC and you can plug the amp into it.
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Are you headphone enthusiasts at all?
If so, explain how the information on your page of the case you just stated helps make an informed decision.
I elaborated:
>no information to actually help someone make an informed decision.
The second half of the statement is the crucial one.
You also cherry picked your example.
Here’s one that doesn’t play in your favour: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1455060867&sr=1-1&keywords=hd600
I can’t find the HD600 on your page. The best Open under 600 contains the HD650 instead.
> Hand-selected matched driver elements
> Improved frequency response is 10 – 39,500 Hz (-10 dB)
> Specially designed acoustic silk ensures precision damping
> High power neodymium magnets deliver maximum efficiency
> Lightweight aluminum voice coils for very fast transient response
At the end of the day, none of this information helps the end user figure out what they want or how best to use the headphone.
If you want to talk about comfort, how about getting into where people run into issues, such as not enough space for bigger ears in the cups, head band issues, weight, etc.
If you want to talk about sound, we have three main “archetypes” if you will; warm, neutral and bright. How about collections of headphones that fit into those categories. On the topic of sound, you blindly ignore any characteristics other than a category called “sound”. What is the comprised of? For many after the entry level price point, sound begins to be weighted much more than any other category. Certain aspects of the sound such as detail, soundstage etc are more important to different customers.
What about amp considerations?
What about an actual chart? The site is called Headphone Charts, but you have lists.
Also being limited to “collections” also doesn’t help.
Take this one for example: http://headphonecharts.com/Best-Open-Back-Headphones-Under-600.php
It doesn’t help guide the reader to the actual differences between the products. It just features a blurb that sounds like the advertising department at each company wrote, some tech specs that don’t mean anything (also designed to sell the product and justify the price), and the aforementioned associate links. This page fails to demonstrate how one product compares to another using any metric other than a number scale, which has no relatable or understandable scale.
If you still believe that this somehow is useful to anyone, fine, but I thoroughly disagree.
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new with prime free shipping is 305 bucks you know
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453948148&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+600
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Budget – $300
Source – Gaming PC
Isolation – not required
Preferred Type – Open back
Past Headphones – HD555, SE215
I will be using this headphone as my daily use for my gaming PC which I play, watch twitch, and listen to all kind of music on my off time.
What do you think of those following headphones :
If you have to choice one of those, which one will you pick and why?
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the link i provided in the OP should direct you to amazon’s listing instead of other third parties’. here it is again: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SY4H?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
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CANADIAN DEAL- Sennheiser HD600- Amazon.ca- $345
http://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-Dynamic-Professional-Stereo-Headphones/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448612665&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+600
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Can anyone help me out real quick? I’m the new kid to this game.
I have the HD600 headphones and I was wondering if I should either go for this or Topping MK2 for $99.
I know my headphones have an impedance of 300 ohms and my budget is at ~$120 max(cheapskate, I know). As of right now, I have nothing but an inexpensive soundcard I threw in my case.
Thanks.
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Apologies about the delay, It’s been a busy past few days for me.
I was hoping to pin down the audio side of things first, just to sort out how much of the budget that would eat (and, thus, if I need to make some small adjustments to my baseline). To that end, here’s some options you might consider, given your espoused preferences:
Sennheiser’s HD600 ($271 via Amazon) is what first comes to mind, for what you’re looking for. Open and neutral to a fault, the HD600 is one of the all-time classic headphones, and it’s a particularly striking value due to some recent price drops. Indeed, at current pricing, it’s one of the best audio values out there, period. You’d need an amplifier to go with it (I tend to like FiiO’s E10K for a cheap DAC-amp due to a relatively high impedance and mediocre power efficiency, but it won’t be pressing on the limits of your budget by any means, even if you opted for a fancier audio chain or some such.
With that said, the HD600, though a true legend for general audio quality, isn’t the defining champion in gaming audio. That title, at least below the $1000 mark, goes to AKG’s K/Q700 line, of which two models stand out: the Q701 ($200 via Amazon) and the K712 Pro ($352 via Amazon). Both are among the best there is in gaming audio performance, at least from a competitive standpoint, and having a K700 model myself I can attest that the immersion you get from their audio imaging is pretty darn excellent. The primary differences between the two models are a slightly more neutral and refined sound for the K712, versus the slightly bass-light Q701, and a more comfortable headband and pads on the K712 (the bumps on the Q701 have been known to leave indents in heads). In either case, an amp would be advisable, though not strictly required – they’re better with one, but most onboard audio will drive them alright.
A third option (and the third of the so-called “mid-fi holy trinity”) would be Beyerdynamic’s DT880 Pro ($235 via B&H). Considered the other side of the neutral coin to the HD600, the DT880 leans toward the bright/treble boosted end, while the HD600 has been called “veiled” or treble-light by some. The DT880 excels particularly in comfort, with most considering Beyer’s pad and headphone design among the best for comfort (though I’m quite fond of the flat-headbanded K700s, myself), and is typically considered more “analytic” than the HD600 (though not more so than the Q701 or K712). It, too, would benefit from an amp, if you get one of the higher-ohm models, which is advisable as the lower-ohm version sounds noticeably worse.
All three options are absolutely rock solid, with the K712 arguably offering the best gaming sound experience and the HD600 arguably the best overall value, and all of them will, based on the draft I’ve got currently, actually fall short of your budget maximum with no trimming or squeezing of anything to fit. If you want to just leave it at that and pick whichever one seems best for you, that’s entirely reasonable, but I will say that there’s a fourth option, which should just fit with some creative budget maneuvering:
HiFiMan’s HE-400i ($425–$500 via Razordog Audio, depending on where you stand on open box). Now this is something properly special, the “gateway to hifi”, and one of the most exciting headphones released in recent memory. A “planar magnetic” design, which is quite a bit more exotic than the cone-speaker-esque dynamic driver headphones mentioned above, and with some significant technical merits (most noticeably a near-complete lack of bass “roll off”, meaning that lower bass/sub-bass notes are level with mid and upper bass, giving a much more satisfying lower end presentation), the HE-400i is an exceptional headphone in most respects. It’s not the competitive gaming legend that the K700s are, but it’s superior in sound quality in pretty much every other respect, and to a noticeable degree. Indeed, it’s considered to be within spitting distance of the HE-560, which is my own “endgame” headphone and which put an abrupt stop to my headphone collecting hobby simply because nothing else I could find south of $1000 sounded nearly so good.
The HE-400i definitely would need an amp, as well, due to its large (albeit moderately efficient) planar drivers simply needing a lot of power to move, so you’d be looking at about $500 minimum (using an E10K, or similar cheap amp/DAC-amp), which is quite a large sum, but can be fit while still meeting your performance targets and fitting all the other niceties, near as I can tell.
If you’re inclined to listen to an audio-addled madman and consider that option, I’d recommend chatting with /u/BramblexD, who has a pair himself (which took me quite a lot of persuasive arguing to sell him, let me tell you…).
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HD600’s on sale, only $13 more and leagues ahead in sound quality or the Q701 which has great sound and soundstage.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=q701
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HD600 it is currently $278 on Amazon, with free returns
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/
I’d say it’s worth giving it a try and see what you think.
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For your own edification: the s80’s are not good headphones. They are actually as entry level as it gets.
These are good heaphones.
Cool setup at the office tho for sure!
